Wood slat mattress



Fb. 13, 19,68 J KPPEL I 3,368,226

' WOOD SLAT MATTRESS Filedoct. 21, 1965 2 sheets-she@ 1 A T TOK/VEYUnited States Patent O 3,368,226 WOOD SLAT MATTRESS Josef Kppel, Widnau,Saint Gall, Switzerland, assigner to North American Import Bedding Inc.,New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. Z1, 1965, Ser. No.500,391 4 Claims. (Cl. 5-236) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLGSURE A wood slatmattress comprising a continuous frame with 'a cross-piece secured oneach of the adjacent end portions of the frame, and having a pluralityof substantially parallel resilent slats supported on said crosspiece toform a support surface for a mattress. The slats lat their sides areprovided with inclined surfaces which form with the slats an acuteangle, and which abut in the unloaded state because of the resilentnature of the slats in a tight or clamping fashion against thecorresponding inclined or tapered surfaces of the cross-pieces lyingopposite them. The cross-pieces are constructed in two sections, a lowersection secured to the frame, and an inclined section removablyconnected therewith. The slats carry at their surfaces, directed towardthe crosspieces, stops constructed to correspond with the crosspieces.The slats in nonuse are tightly and firmly positioned on the twocross-pieces, and in use, lie loosely thereon.

This invention relates to a wood slat mattress and more particularlyrelates to an improved wood slat mattress of the type consisting of manystrips ot wood laid tightly alongside each other, producing an entirelysmooth surface.

Mattresses, the top surface of which consists of slats parallellyarranged on two cross-pieces provided closely adjacent the ends thereof,are known. In this connection, it has been proposed that the wood slatsof such mattresses be constructed so that in their unloaded positionthey are arched or curved upwardly while, under loading, they areflattened out or depressed downwardly. Further, it has been proposed toconstruct slats so as to provide stops or cams on the Kbottom surfacesthereof, which stops hold the slats in an abutting position against across-piece which can be rounded off at the point of abutment. Suchcross-piece forms in the movement of the slats under loading the fulcrumjoint, the slats sliding in a longitudinal direction on the othercross-piece, which can also be tapered or rounded at its top surface.With cross-pieces having rounded top portions, the slats can be joinedso that they abut in a more or less level position with the tapered orrounded portion of the crosspiece. According to the degree of the taperof the crosspieces, the slats can, therefore, either in their unloadedor loaded position, lie flat against the cross-piece. As a result of theuniform lateral joining of the slats to one ofthe cross-pieces, thedisplacement path of the slats is comparatively great at the site offree abutment, resulting, on the one hand, in that movement of the slatsis made difficult and, on the other hand, in that such impaired mobilityresults in undesirable noises on such movement. In addition, slats sojoined `are very easily detached in the transporting of the mattress.

It has also been proposed to provide wood slats with elongated slotswhich can engage with bolts provided on the cross-pieces. While thisdoes result in providing that the slats can move or slide within acertain small range simultaneously on both cross-pieces, it has thedisadvantage that the slats are weakened at the places of abutment withthe cross-piece Kand also the further dis- ICC advantage that sheets,covers, blankets, and the like, resting or coming in contact with thewood slats, are caught up in the elongated slots, possibly jamming thelatter, and certainly damaging the former. Further, large frictionalsurfaces are thereby formed so that, in use, undesirable noises areinevitable.

One object of this invention is to provide a wood slat mattress whichwill include means facilitating movement of the slats while in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wood slat mattress thatwill not damage `any overlying fabric,

Still another object of this invention is to provide a wood slatmattress that is entirely noiseless in use and which can be easilytransported from place to place.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of a woodslat mattress that is highly etlicient in operation, simple inconstruction and design, and cornparatively inexpensive to produce.

These, together with the various ancillary objects of the invention,which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, areattained by this wood slat mattress, a preferred embodiment of which hasbeen illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by Way `of eX- ampleonly, wherein:

FIG. l is a top view of a wood mattress;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection of the slatswith the cross-bar;

FIG. 3 is a side View showing the connection of the slats with thecross-bar;

FIG. 4 is a view of the cross-piece in accordance with the instantinvention.

(FIGS. 2 and 3 designate a form of connection in the lart attributableto the inventor herein.)

In contrast to the wood slat mattresses as heretofore available, thewood slats in accordance with the invention in non-use are tightly andtirmly positioned on the two cross-pieces and, in use, lie looselythereon.

The resulting mattress provides a at, firm, resilient surface capable ofconsiderable adaptation to the weight supported thereon. Furthermore, ithas the advantage that the mattress can be transported, i.e., the -bedcan be taken 'apart without slats becoming unintentionally detached ordisplaced, and, further, that the mattress does not produce anyundesirable noises in the shifting of the weight thereon.

The aforesaid advantages are attained in accordance with the invention,in that the cams or stops provided at the undersurface of the slats aredeveloped as buffers, and their sides directed toward the cross-piecesare provided with inclined surfaces which form with the slats an acuteangle and which abut, in the unloaded state of the mattress, because ofthe resilient nature of the slats, in a tight or clamping fashionagainst corresponding inclined or tapered surfaces of the cross-pieceslying 0pposite them.

In order to further improve the mattress, the cams can -be made of sucha length that they simultaneously serve as spacer supports for theslats.

The cross-pieces in accordance with the invention consist of one orseveral layers of a glued, solidly joined, part. It has now been foundthat the resiliency of the wood and, therefore, of the slat may mostadvantageously be availed of, the distance of the cross-pieces madeadjustable, and provision made for replacement of the wornout parts(points of abutment of the cross-pieces) by constructing thecross-pieces in two sections or parts. The lower fixed part is arectangular or square-shaped section, which is much simpler to produceas compared to the production of the one-piece part heretofore produced.The proled support, piece or section which includes the inclined surfacelying opposite the cam, may be made of 3 wood or it may be constructedof plastic. The production of the part in plastic decreases the frictionand, therewith, increases the noiselessness. Above all, subsequentadjustments are possible if the wood parts of the frame or of thecross-piece should sag.

With reference to the vaccompanying drawing, the numeral 1 is used todesignate the two side posts of the :frame of the wood slat mattresswhich are joined through corner connections 2 with the transverse slats3. The frame is supported by legs 4. The cross-pieces 5 are rigidlyconnected with the two side posts 1 at a point closely adjacent theirhead and foot ends. The cross-pieces 5 are constructed so as to have anincline 6 and at their highest point a rounded-olf support surface 7.The sides of the cross-pieces 5, which are outwardly directed, areprovided with an incline 11 and serve as stops for the cams 10, whichare attached to the slats 8 by means of screws 9. The sides of the slatsdirected toward the cross-pieces 5 are provided with a correspondingincline 11, which acts together with the incline 11 of the crosspiece 5.The cross-piece, in accordance with the invention, is shown in FIG. 4and is constructed of a solid wood part 12 rigidly connected with theside parts and a displaceable proled section 13, constructed of wood orplastic and which is attached by screws to the part 12. The proled part13 corresponds to the cross-piece 5 and, namely, is provided withinclines 6 and 11 and the rounded support surface 7.

The slats 8 are arched upwardly and speci'cally so that the curvaturemeasured at the vertex amounts to at least 20 mm. Advantageously, theslats 8 are formed of at least three wood layers glued together. Becauseof their curvature, they are, according to the thickness chosen, more orless resilient and assume in the unloaded state the maximal curvature.

The cams are positioned on the slats 8 so that, in the unloaded state ofthe slats 8, they fully abut on the cross-pieces (FIG. 4). Because ofthe incline 11 at the stop 10, which abut on the corresponding incline11 of the cross-pieces 5, the slats 8 are, in their resting position,secured against unintentional displacement or detachment. The stops 10,which simultaneously serve as spacers, prevent a lateral displacement ofthe slats 8. If, in the use of the mattress, a load is placed thereon,the slats stretch and the cams 10 are displaced in the direction of thearrows (FIG. 1) and are withdrawn from the cross-piece 5.

Since the slats 8, because of the rounded-01T support surface 7, onlyabut on a very small surface, there results in the displacement of theslats 8 only the very slightest frictional resistance, and no noiseresults.

The wood Slat mattress, in accordance with the invention, is extremelyeasy t0 clean, and meets all of the hygienic requirements. Because ofthe construction of the slats, the mattress offers excellent resilienceand, consequently, is comfortable to lie on.

In place of the wood or wood laminates, the slats 8 may lalso be made ofsynthetic materials.

I claim:

1. A wood slat mattress comprising a continuous frame formed by two sidesections joined through corner sections with transverse sections, across-piece secured on each of the adjacent end portions of said frameto said side sections, `a support surface consisting of substantiallyparallel and spaced resilient slats supported on said crossapieces, saidslats in the unloaded position ybeing upwardly curved; stop meanssecured at the surfaces of said slats directed toward the cross-pieces,the surfaces of said stop means directed toward the cross-pieces beingconstructed in the form of an incline, the surfaces of said cross-piecesdirected toward said slats being constructed with a correspondingincline for abutment with said stop means forming in the unloaded statean acute angle with said slats, said cross-piece being constructed intwo sections, a base section rigidly secured to said frame and aninclined section removably connected therewith.

2. Wood slat mattress according to claim 1, wherein said cross-piecesection, the surface of which is constructed in the form of an incline,is made of plastic.

3. Wood slat mattress according to claim 1, wherein said stop means aredimensioned to serve as spacers for said slats.

4. Wood slat mattress according to claim 1, wherein said slats areconstructed of multi-layers of wood securely joined together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,126,554 3/1964 Janapol 5-243FOREIGN PATENTS 384,694 11/ 1923 Germany.

676,218 5/ 1939 Germany.

466,793 6/ 1937 Great Britain.

294,632 7/ 1954 Switzerland.

305,069 4/ 1955 Switzerland.

375,501 4/ 1964 Switzerland.

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Examiner.

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner.

